12 December 2016analysis

(In)Dependence: Glimpse into Surkov files

Moscow is exercising considerable daily control over administration and governance of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions, which is backed up by near-complete financial dependence of these regions on capital inflows from Russia, as well as the integration of the local forces into the Russian command and control systems. Georgia’s foreign friends and partners should unambiguously recognize the reality, depth and breadth of the direct Russian control over the occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali.

David Batashvili, who worked at Georgia's National Security Council in 2008-2013, looks into the leaked correspondence to identify the how and to what extent the Kremlin manages Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions.